No resolution for UC Santa Cruz tree-sitters

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. 
Mediation talks have failed to end the nearly 14-month anti-development protest in redwood trees at University of California, Santa Cruz.

Representatives of the Science Hill tree-sitters and the university chancellor's office ended Wednesday night without resolution.

Protest spokeswoman Jennifer Charles says the university refused to back off north campus development. The redwoods must be cut down so construction can begin this spring on the new university biomedical facility.

University spokesman Jim Burns says it's hoped tree-sitters will leave voluntarily. A judge ordered them out of the trees in March and the mediation sessions were designed to end the protest peacefully.